Means for cleaning air.



H. J. RICHARDSON.

MEANS FOR CLEANING AIR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-2,1912.

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H. J. RICHARDSON. MEANS FOR CLEANING'AIR. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 2. I912.

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MEANS FOR CLEANING AIR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 2, I912.

Patented June 15, 1915.

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HARVEY J. RICHARDSON, on CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MEANS FOR CLEANING AIR.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 15, 1915.,

Application filed December 2, 1912. Serial No. 734,510.

Cleaning Air, of which, the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a. part of this specifica- My invention relates to improved means for cleaning air and its object is to provide means for thoroughly and economically drycleaning air, that is cleaning the air Without passing the same through water or other liquid to remove the dust and dirt therefrom.

Broadly, my invention contemplates the provision of a screen in the form of an endless belt passing over suitable rollers through which belt the air to be cleaned is drawn. I also provide suitable pneumatic cleaning tools for cleaning said endless screen when ever the apertures of the same become clo ged with dust and dirt.

The air cleaning means herein shown and described is particularly adapted for cleaning the air admitted to transformer rooms at the operating sub-stations of electric lighting and power companies. It is extremely important in'installations of this kind that the transformer rooms be free from dust and dirt. The dust and dirt clogs up the air passages of the transformers. and the transformers thus deprived of complete ventilai in, heat considerably more than is neces- Although, as I have stated, the air cleaning means provided by my invention is particularly adapted for use in cleaning the air admitted to transformer rooms, its use is not so limited, it being adapted for use in cleaning the air used in office buildings, churches, theaters, etc., where a large supply of clean air is necessary. a

As I before stated, the air cleaning screen of my invention consists of an endless belt passing over a series of rollers. These rollers are so disposedas to give the screen a zigzag cross-section. Suitable means is provided for keeping the screen under tension at all times and for preventing the same from bulging due to the fan which is provided to draw the air through the screen. The screen referred to is made of a loosely woven woolen. fabric having a long nap which tends to retain particles of dust and dirt small enough to pass through the woolen cloth if the nap were not present.

Other details of the apparatus of my invention will appear as this description progresses.

In the accompanving drawings illustrating my invention Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the supporting framework for the air cleaning screen. the means which is provided for keeping the screen under tension, and the devices f or driving the screen rollers; Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the means for pneumatically cleaning the screen Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3 showing the means provided for guiding the screen and preventing the same from bulging due to the suction-of the vacuum cleaning tools; Fig. 5 is a view of the drum over which the screen passes. showing the same partly in elevation and partly in section; Figs. 6 and 7 are views respectively of the large and small rollers over which the screen passes; Fig. 8 is a view showing the driving sprocket for the screen carrying drum and rollers, showing the means whereby the screen may be propelled manually or electrically as desired; and Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 99 of Fig. 8 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3'inclusive, I have shown an angle iron framework at 10, said framework being provided with suitable truss rods 11 and cross-braces 12, as shown. The framework 10 and the devices carried thereby are disposed in a suitable opening in the wall 13 of a building. as shown. Supported by the framework 10 are eight Z-bars 14, four at each end of the framework. These Z-bars support seven large rollers 15 and six small rollers 16, which have hearings in slots 17 in the Z-bars 14. As clearly shown in Fig. 1, the roller 18 has hearings in a framework 19 which is pivoted to the main framework 10 at 20. The framework 19 is provided with a weight 21 pivoted thereto, the function of which weight will herein- 18, and the drum 22 hearing in slots in one rollers 15 and 16 are each provided with four circumferential slots 24, one at each end and two between the ends thereof. These slots engage belts 25 of linen or other suitable material with which the screen 23 is provided as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The screen is thus prevented from shifting transversely of the rollers and drum.

The function of the framework 19 and its weight 21 will now appear. The roller 18 being adapted to move transversely of the supporting framework 10 and the weight 21 exerting a pull upon the framework 19 tending to move the roller 18 out of vertical,

alinement with the rollers 15 on the left hand side of the framework 10, the screen 23 is held under tension at all times: Idler rollers 18", 18 are provided to guide the screen to and away from the roller 18.

Air is drawn or blown through the air cleaning screen in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive. It will thus be seen that all the air which is admitted to the compartment inside the air 1 cleaning device must pass through two thicknesses of woolen screen. Almost all, if not all, the dust and dirt of the air is inter cepted and held by the screen.

The drum 22 may be rotated by means of a chain 26 and sprocket wheel 27 carried by the drum. The driving sprocket for the chain 26 is illustrated at 28 in Figs. 8 and 9. The drum 22 being rotated by the sprocket and chain arrangement referred to, the lowest of the rollers 15 on the side-of the framework 10 opposite the drum is driven from the drum by means of a suitable chain 29 meshing with sprockets carried by the drum and screen roller. The roller directly above the last mentioned roller and top roller 15 on the other side of the framework 10 are in turn driven by suitable chains 30, 30. It will thus be seen that strain on the screen 23 is prevented by the arrangement of chains and sprocket wheels referred to; certain of the rollers 15 being driven from the drum by means of the sprockets and chains instead of through the screen.

As is clearly shown in Fig. 2, the screen 23 is divided into three widths by the linen belts 25 with which the screen is provided. Each of these three widths of the belt is provided at the top and bottom with a vacuum nozzle 31. The nozzles 31 are each provided with tubes 32 as shown. The three upper tubes 32 have communication with the tube 33 by means of a three-way connection 34. The tube 33 in turn has communication with the vacuum tank or vacuum pump. The lower nozzles also have communication with a common vacuum connection.

When the screen 23 has become dirty and dust laden the sprocket 28 is rotated either manually or electrically as the case may be, whereupon the screen 23 is carried over the drum 22 and its supporting rollers and is moved past the vacuum nozzles 31. Communication between the nozzles 31 and the vacuum tank or pump is then opened. As the screen is moved past the vacuum nozzles, the dirt and dust carried thereby is removed and carried away through tube 33. It should be noted that while the upper nozzles have direct contact with the outside of the screen 23, the lower nozzles engage the inside of the same. Therefore, when the screen has made one complete revolution, it will have passed both the upper and lower vacuum nozzles and have been cleaned on both sides thereby. The screen may be turned and cleaned by means of the vacuum nozzles whenever it becomes sufficiently dirty and dust-laden to require cleaning.

I will now explain the arrangement which is provided in order to prevent the screen from bulging at the center due to the suction of the fan. As is clearly shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the framework 10 is provided with sidewalls 35, 35 of sheet zinc or other suitable material. These side walls are supported by the Z-bars 14, 14, which also serve as bearings for the screen rollers and the drum 22. Between the parallel portions of the screen 23 and carried by each of the zinc side walls 35 are wooden blocks 36 which serve as guides for the screen 23. The blocks 36 are provided with metal plates 37 which project over each edge of the blocks 36 and engage the belts 25 with which the edges of the screen 23 are provided. Z-bars 38 carried by the side walls 35 serve as guides for the screen and engage the belts 25 on the sides of the screen opposite the 'wooden blocks 36. Thus, when the fan is operated, the belts 25 engage the plates 37 and Z-bars 38 and so prevent the screen from bulging at the center. As is clearly shown in Fig. 4, wearing strips 39 areinterposed between the belts 25 at the sides of the screen and the woolen fabric of which the screen 23 is made in order that the woolen material of the screen may not come into direct contact with the plates 37 or the Z-bars 38. The wooden blocks 36 are preferably conformed to snugly'fit the rollers 15 and 18 andthe drum 22 as is illustrated in Fig. 3.

The outside slots of the drum 22 may be provided with rubber bands 40 as illustrated in Fig. in order that there may be no slipping of the belts 25 carried by the screen 23. The circumferential slots 24 with which the rollers 15 and 16 are provided are clearly illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. One of the bearing rods of the roller 16 consists of a thrust rod 41 provided with a spring 42 normally holding the end of the rod 41 outside of the opening in the roller. lhe opening for the rod 41 is lined with a pipe 43. The pipe 43 is provided with slots 44 which are engaged by a transverse rod 45 carried by the thrust rod 41. The spring 42 is thus prevented from thrusting the rod 41 entirely from the pipe 43. When it is desired to remove one of the rollers 16 from its bearings, an instrument is inserted through slot 46 until it engages circumferential slot 47 of the rod 41, whereupon the thrust rod 41 may be withdrawn from its bearing and the roller 16 removed from the framework 10.

I will now proceed to describe the mounting of the driving sprocket 28 illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, which sprocket is so mounted that it may be rotated either manually or by means of any suitable power, as for instance, by means of an electric motor. At 48 I have illustrated a shaft having suitable bearing 49. This shaft is connected with a motor in any suitable manner not shown. Keyed to the shaft 48 by means of a key 50 is a sleeve 51. Loosely mounted upon the shaft 48 is the driving sprocket 28 which is provided with crank 52 and handle 53 as shown. The sprocket 28 is retained in position by means of a bolt 55 as shown. The sleeve 51 is provided with a stud 56 carrying a bolt 57. The flange 58 of the sleeve 51 is provided with an opening 59 adapted to register with the apertures 54 of the sprocket 28. The bolt 57- is provided with a portion 57 adapted to engage in one of the apertures 54 of the sprocket 28 at which time the wings 57 of the bolt will be disposed in a slot 60 with which the flange 58 is provided. A compression spring 61 tends to normally hold the portion 57" of the bolt 57 in engagement with the. sprocket 28. W hen it is desired that the screen 23 be driven by any suitable power having driving connection with the shaft 48, the bolt 57 is adjusted in the position shown in Fig. 8 whereupon the sprocket 28 is driven with sleeve 51 keyed to the shaft 48.- When it is desired that the sprocket 28 be driven manually, the bolt 57 is withdrawn from the slot 60, thus disengaging the portion 57" with the sprocket 28,- whereupon the sprocket 28 may be turned by means of handle 53 without rotating the shaft 48.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I have provided a screen which may be cleaned quickly and thoroughly at any time it becomes dust-laden. This allows of the use of a much finer screen than would otherwise be the case as a screen of fine mesh would not be practicable ifthere were not some means at hand for cleaning the screen whenever desired.

While I have shown my invention in the particular embodiments herein shown and described, I do not, however, limit myself to these constructions, but desire to claim any equivalents that may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

What ll claim is:

1. Apparatus for cleaning air comprising a framework, a plurality of rollers supported by said framework,a yieldingly mounted roller bodily shiftable in its bearings, a cloth screen carried by said rollers, mechanism for a driving one or more of said rollers, a pneumatic cleaning tool adapted to clean said screen, and a member normally tending to shift said shiftable roller to keep said screen under tension.

2. In an apparatus for cleaning air, a framework, a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted in said framework, each of said rollers having a plurality of annular grooves in the periphery thereof, an endless screen passing over each of said rollers, said screen comprising a web of soft fibrous cloth of low tensile strength and a plurality of belts of high tensile strength attached to said web, said belts being disposed in said grooves and dividing said screen into a plurality. of

widths and a vacuum'cleaning tool engag in said framework, an endless britscreen passing over said rollers and having both sides of said belt arranged in zigzag fashion, said screen comprising a cloth web of a soft fibrous texture, means to pass dust laden air through both folds of said web for filtering the same, a vacuum cleaning tool disposed adjacent said web and independent connecgions between said rollers for advancing said elt.

4. in an air cleaning apparatus, a framework, rollers arranged in said framework, a screen having two folds passing over said rollers in zigzag fashion, said rollers comprising a plurality of pairs of rollers, and single end rollers arranged in said framework in staggered order, each pair comprising a small roller and a larger roller, said folds being disposed in substantially parallel planes.

5,. In an air cleaning apparatus, a frame,

a plurality of pairs of rollers and end rollpair of rollers having a bodily movable roller to tension said screen, a pair of guide rollers for retaining said screen in said groove at all times regardless of the bodily movement of said one roller.

6. In an air cleaning apparatus, a frame, a plurality of pairs of rollers and single end rollers disposed in staggered relation in said frame, an endless belt screen disposed in zigzag fashion passing over said rollers and interposing two folds thereof to the passage of air therethrough, and a vacuum cleaning nozzle on each side of said screen for withdrawing the dust from said screen.

7. In an air cleaning device, a frame, a'

plurality of pairs of rollers and single end rollers disposed in staggered relation in said frame, an endless belt screen disposed in zigzag fashion over said.rollers and interposing two folds thereof to the passage of air therethrough, said belt having a web of soft fibrous cloth, and a vacuum cleaning nozzle for withdrawing the dust from said cloth.

8. In an air cleaning device, a frame, a plurality of pairs of rollers and single end rollers disposed in staggered relation in said frame, an endless belt screen disposed in zigzag fashion over said rollers and interposing two folds thereof to the passage of air therethrough, said belt having a web of soft woolen cloth and a vacuum cleaning tool for withdrawing the dust from both sides of said cloth.

9. In an air cleaning device, an endless belt screen, said screen having a web of soft fibrous cloth, and a vacuum cleaning nozzle on each side of said cloth, said screen and nozzles being relatively movable.

10. In an air cleaning device, an endless belt screen comprising a web of soft fibrous cloth, reinforcing strips running lengthwise of said screen to support the same, a plurality of rollers on which said screen is mounted, one of said rollers being bodily movable, tensioning means tending to move said roller, and a vacuum cleaning nozzle on each side of said cloth web.

11. In an apparatus for cleaning air a main air passage for dust laden air, a frame, a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted in said frame, an endless web of soft fibrous texture having a long nap thereupon, a plurality of reinforcing strips running lengthwise on said web, said web and strips passing over said rollers and intercepting said main air passage, means to pass dust laden air through said web to cause thedust to adhere to the nap of said web, a plurality of vacuum cleaning nozzles mounted in said frame, held adjacent the portion of the web included between adjacent reinforcing strips and means to rotate said rollers to advance said web past said cleaning nozzles to with draw the duct from the nap of the web.

In'witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 19th day of November, A.D.,

HARVEY J. RICHARDSON. Witnesses:

A. G. MCCALEB, C. C. DEWEES. 

